NEW ORLEANSA day after electing their first African-American president in a historic move that strives to erase its legacy of racism, Southern Baptists passed a resolution opposing the idea that same-sex marriage is a civil rights issue. Thousands of delegates at the denomination's annual meeting in New Orleans on Wednesday were nearly unanimous in their support for the resolution that affirms their belief that marriage is "the exclusive union of one man and one woman" and that "all sexual behavior outside of marriage is sinful." . . . The resolution acknowledges that gays and lesbians sometimes experience "unique struggles" but declares that they lack the "distinguishing features of classes entitled to special protections." It includes a call for the U.S. Justice Department to cease efforts to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act and for the Obama administration to ensure that military personnel and chaplains canfreely express their religious convictions about homosexuality. . . "It's important to sound the alarm again, because the culture is changing," [said Mckissic] [adding]it was "an unfair comparison" for gays to equate same-sex marriage with civil rights because there is not incontrovertible scientific evidence that homosexuality is an innate characteristic, like skin color.

Well, it is by the Associated Press. But I think it is pretty clear that it is NOT a call for gay rights, but a challenge and assertion that gay rights are not the same as civil rights. That it is preceded by “Southern Baptists:” leaves no doubt.

Of all the government protected classes of official victims gays (now LGBTs) are defined by the most questionable definition. The other victims are defined by physical appearance whereas LGBTs Gays are defined by their behavior, although it is claimed to be their ‘feelings’ or ‘desires’; but it is their behavior that is protected, not their being or 'feelings'. American NEVER outlawed 'feelings' so the whole thing is based on a faulty premise. Let me debate those libs LOL

5
posted on 06/21/2012 7:42:49 AM PDT
by sickoflibs
(Romney is a liberal. Just watch him closely try to screw us.)

because there is not incontrovertible scientific evidence that homosexuality is an innate characteristic, like skin color.

The argument over innateness is a red herring that plays into the homosexual lobby's hands. The reference point needs to be shifted from the individual, whose inner convolutions are unknowable, to society. Whereas society experiences your race as something you are, it experiences your sexuality as something you do, regardless of whether it's innate or not. And society has a right to pass laws that take into account what you do. That's what makes gay marriage not a civil rights issue.

“The resolution on same-sex marriage and civil rights includes a statement that the SBC stands against “any form or gay-bashing, whether disrespectful attitudes, hateful rhetoric, or hate-incited actions.”

But even with those disclaimers, statements such as this one could hurt evangelism efforts because they are likely to be objectionable to many people who are “not necessarily affirming, but also not rejecting” of gay rights issues, Key said.”

The Gospel starts with the call to REPENT. If one accepts sin, there is nothing to be saved FROM.

“McKissic, who is black, said it was “an unfair comparison” for gays to equate same-sex marriage with civil rights because there is not incontrovertible scientific evidence that homosexuality is an innate characteristic, like skin color.

The argument would be that what you DO is inseperable from what you ARE, that the latter dictates the former. A diabetic doesn’t CHOOSE to go into a coma; he does so because he is diabetic. He may choose to inject insulin, which may stave off the coma, but even in that case, his behavior (the injection) is a function of his nature (being diabetic). Don’t shoot me; I don’t believe any of that claptrap. I’m just playing the Devil’s advocate.

The real answer to this specious defense is that we are not opposing homosexuality or even homosexual behavior. That will be judged by the Ultimate Authority. What we oppose is the false normalization of deviancy and the insistence that society grant it its imprimatur.

“. . . in a historic move that strives to erase its legacy of racism, . .”
Was this a declaration made by the Southern Baptist body or is a pure surmise on the part of the article’s author? I believe it is the latter which makes this article wholly subjective.

Freedom of association is NOT a constitutional right, at least not since Brown vs. Board. You are not free to deny public accommodations to anyone, nor are you at liberty to follow your beliefs if they by their very nature exclude certain protected individuals or groups.

“. . . in a historic move that strives to erase its legacy of racism, . .
Was this a declaration made by the Southern Baptist body or is a pure surmise on the part of the articles author? I believe it is the latter which makes this article wholly subjective.”

I would agree, there is no reason to believe that by appointing this black leader, that the SBs were in any way trying to erase a legacy of racism. They likely thought he was qualified. Yes, that had to have been inserted subjectively by the article’s author.

The argument would be that what you DO is inseperable from what you ARE

But two men choosing to marry is clearly different from a diabetic falling into a diabetic coma. One is a positive act of the will. The other is what happens when you do nothing.

And beside, the entire premise of civil rights is that people should be judged by what they do, not by what they are. That's why we don't look at race when we define marriage.

If they want to say that doing and being can't be separated, then they are making our argument for us. They are saying that homosexual rights follow from a completely different logic than civil rights. If they want to hang themselves with that argument, I say let them.

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